Saturday, March 9, 2013

CARNIVAL CRUISING

– is it really “fun for all and all for fun?”

The week of Feb 18, 2013 hubby had to go on a work cruise on
the Carnival Elation ship.His industry
was holding a conference to create new opportunities for business growth and
development.This was hubby’s 3rd
cruise and my 2nd with him.So for him, it was not much of a break-from-work cruise and for me, it
was supposed to be a vacation.Let me
just say right off, that cruising is far from my ideal idea of a vacation.I was so freaking glad to get back home; I
can’t say that enough.Getting sick
during the trip did not help ease my misery.The cruise left the Port of New Orleans on Monday and
arrived back on Saturday.We flew into
New Orleans on Sunday and walked around town on our own.We went down a portion of Bourbon Street, and
I quickly discovered, with absolute certainty, that place is not for me.I was so uncomfortable while walking that
street (during daylight!) that I quickly realized I would not ever want to go
there during the night, and unquestionably would not want to get drunk in that
area.I absolutely did not see the
appeal of the place.We thought it best
and safe to eat at the hotel’s café for dinner after seeing Bourbon St.Anyway, I digress.Let’s get back to the question at hand.CARNIVAL CRUISING – is it really “fun for all and all for fun?” As you read this, you will be able to
determine my answer.The ship was old and small.Can’t really fault the ‘old’ part.The ‘small’ part – well there were too many people on board for its
size.But one part I can find fault with
is the décor.OMG, it was sooo
tacky.The décor was truly awful – it
kind of looked like the 80’s and 90’s exploded in and then meshed with your
grandma’s old-person’s home.Bad colors,
bad style, bad execution – just tasteless.Another outrageous thing they did was to tip the hell out of patrons for
their drinks.While out on sea, you
could not sit at the bar and open up a tab, and then, when finished pay up and
tip on the whole amount.NO!With every single drink you ordered, you paid
and had to tip on it.Really???Really???That is just insane.(Now keep in mind this was only my 2nd
cruise and my 1st was 3 years ago on a different cruise line.So this offensive tipping policy may be
standard practice and I am just unaware).Also, the food was bland; some of it was fine, but mostly just some
tired thing to keep you from starving.I
did enjoy the 24 hour pizza bar, the ice cream machine and the Mongolian Wok
though.Those were delicious.And the biggest factor I did not like was
having my schedule set for me for a vacation.When I go on vacation, I want to be the one to set it, with hubby’s
input of course.There was one thing on board that greatly amused me – the
Hairy Chest Competition.One afternoon
the assistant cruise director hosted this funny contest on the Lido Deck.There were 7 men ranging in age from late
20’s to late 50’s.The oldest of these had
on a santa hat and a santa boxers.Three
women were the judges for the competition.Some of the things the men did to these women to try and influence their
decision just made me cringe. Eww Eww
Eww!The men really got into this
contest and did some really silly/slightly embarrassing antics to try to win
this most prestigious of awards.In the
end a 30-something man with a very hairy chest (and hairy back and arms) won.He was the most fun to watch as he knew how
to shake his booty enticingly.;-)The other thing 3 things I enjoyed the most
were the 2 comedians, playing roulette in the casino (and ultimately losing)
and late-night dancing at a lounge.Two
of those nights I was out until after 2am.I do not stay out/up that late in my normal life, but hey, I did not
have to be anywhere the next morning. And the comedians on board were great and
really funny.I enjoyed their shows and
witticisms very much. The cruise stopped in Cozumel and Progresso, Mexico.Hubby and I only got off at Cozumel and
walked around for a couple of hours, though some of that time was spent in
Margaritaville for lunch.Lunch there
was really tasty and so were those large margaritas.;-)After much window shopping, I did buy a beautiful statement necklace and
a couple of normal touristy junk things.The store peddlers really really really got on my nerves. I know they
were doing their jobs, but I was starting to hate them and their pestering
ways.So all in all, the trip was just fine. I would not be
excited about doing it again anytime soon.But I will look on it as an adventure and of going to 2 places I had not
visited previously – New Orleans and Cozumel.And I got to fly to/from NOLA in first class!I do love flying and traveling.But back to the question in the title - “Is it really ‘fun
for all and all for fun’?” I very
strongly say NO.Hubby and I were so
happy to get back to New Orleans and even more excited when our flight got us
back to Atlanta and ultimately home. Despite the 2 comedic shows, hairy contest,
roulette and 1 night of dancing, there was really nothing much else that delighted
me.I was bored a good deal of the time.When we debarked in NOLA and were making our
way to customs, I heard a few older people say how much fun they had and wanted
to turn around and walk right back on the ship for another cruise.My thought was ‘what the f--- cruise were you on?’But as I said earlier, I got sick during the
last ½ of the cruise and was miserable.Anyways Carnival, thanks for giving me something to do that week other
than going to work.I hope I have a more
satisfying vacation later this year.I did get some pics though during the trip – here you
go:

view of ship from hotel room

mounds of what would become semi-bland food

in cozumel

love towel animals!!

And today’s pun, courtesy of the interwebs (sorry I have not
included one recently)“The butcher backed up into his meat
grinder and got a little behind in his work.”

About Me

I am happily married and work full-time in the personal lines insurance industry. Hubby and I eloped to Las Vegas in May 2009 and then became dog parents in January 2010. Dog takes up quite a bit of time but he is goofy and so much fun.

My early years were made of riding horses and competing in various events in rodeos. That was a great way to grow up. Hubby and I moved to Atlanta in 2007. I really enjoyed living in the city and all of the exciting things you can do here; then we moved in 2014 to NC and now live in the out in country. Quite a different pace of life to say the least!